Sodhi is chief whip of Punjab CLPChandigarh, August 16
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today named his Political Secretary, Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi, as the Chief Whip of the Punjab Congress Legislative Party.
He comes in place of Mr Malkit Singh Birmi, who is also Minister of State for Jails, Housing and Urban Development.

Amarinder directed to appear in courtChandigarh, August 16
The Chief Minister of Punjab, Capt Amarinder Singh, was today directed to appear in person in a defamation case filed against him by a former Chief Minister and President of the Shiromani Akali Dal, Mr Parkash Singh Badal.

Akalis seek ban on birthday celebrations of Baba BhaniaraNurpurbedi (Ropar), August 16
Tension simmered once again in the Nurpurbedi area today as various Sikh organisations held a meeting and demanded a ban on the forthcoming birthday celebrations of the
controversial Baba Piara Singh Bhaniara.

Sham Singh’s removal as PSGPC co-Chairman soughtFerozepore, August 16
The recent outburst of Mr Sham Singh, co-Chairman of the PSGPC, against India during Independence Day function at the Indo-Pakistan joint checkpost has evoked widespread criticism.

SGPC-run colleges turn back studentsAmritsar, August 16
Future of about 50 students seeking admission, on basis of getting a merit position in the PMT, to SGPC-run Sri Guru Ram Das Medical and Dental Colleges has been hanging fire for the last three weeks whereas the new session had already started.

Bridge linking Majha & Doaba opens on Aug 21Chandigarh, August 16
A part of the savings made by vehicle owners on fuel will go in the payment of toll tax, as the state-of-the-art Mukerian-Gurdaspur bridge across the Beas linking Majha with
Doaba, will be dedicated to the public on August 21.

CPM begins state-level
march against CentreAmritsar, August 16
The Communist Party of India (M) commenced its state-level march from Jallianwala Bagh here today to raise public opinion against the policies of the Vajpayee-led NDA government at the Centre.

Cong failed to honour poll promises, says BJPAbohar, August 16
Hardly 2-3 per cent of the promises made in the 50-page election manifesto had been implemented by the Congress Government in Punjab. This was stated by the state BJP General Secretary Rajinder Bhandari here yesterday.

Minister-MLA tussle deepensFatehgarh Sahib,
August 16The tussle between Mr Sadhu Singh, MLA from
Amloh, and the
Punjab Minister for Public Health and Panchayats, Mr Jasjit Singh
Randhawa, took a new turn as the MLA convened a meeting of the members
of the Panchayat Samiti of Amloh and his supporters on August 19 to
discuss the further course of action.

Pak MPs return home, favour extradition treatyWagah (Amritsar), August 16
The Pakistan MPs, who returned today to their country, favoured the early signing of an extradition treaty for the deportion of hardcore criminals in both countries.

A woman member of the Pakistani parliamentarian delegation, Ms Ayaz Siddiqui, purchases an idol of Lord Ganesha from a
department store in Amritsar on Saturday.
— PTI photo

Illicit distillation of liquor becoming a cottage industryRampura (Bathinda), August 16
The illicit distillation of liquor in the district in general and in this belt in particular, have acquired the status of cottage industry as various families of rural areas have adopted it as a full-time vocation.

Borrowed I-Day joysRopar, August 16
Believe it or not, even the national day marking our independence was celebrated in the districts by taking “bagaars” (obligations) from government officials and private organisations. The reason was meagre budget allocations for the celebrations by the government. All districts in the state have been allocated a budget of Rs 15,000 with regard to Independence and Republic day celebrations.

Conjoined babies arrive at PingalwaraAmritsar, August 16
Nearly two-month-old conjoined boys abandoned by their parents arrived in the All-India Pingalwara Charitable Society from Delhi today. A special air-conditioned room was prepared to receive these special guests.

Nangal, August 16
Activists of the Samata Andolan, workers of National Fertilisers Ltd. and Nangal residents took out a candlelight march yesterday to protest against the disinvestment policies of the government.

Residents of Nangal and workers of National Fertilisers Limited take out a candlelight march against disinvestment policies of the NDA government on Friday.
— Photo Subash Sharma

Amritsar, August 16
To mitigate the sufferings of the persons who were killed or maimed during ‘Operation Prakram’ in the border belt of Amritsar and Gurdaspur districts, the Army authorities today distributed Rs 6.12 lakh, one-month of the ex gratia compensation announced by the Ministry of Defence.

The mother
of Sahib Singh, who was killed in a mine blast during
"Operation Prakaram," receives a cheque from Maj-Gen
Ashok Samantray at Khasa on Saturday. —
Photo Rajiv Sharma

Check obscenity, says ministerBathinda, August 16
Mr Amarjit Singh Samra, Minister of State for Revenue and Rehabilitation, yesterday asked the Deputy Commissioner, Bathinda, Mr Anurag Aggarwal, to take action against those showing X-rated movies and displaying obscene posters in the city.

SSP cancels two cases after probeMansa, August 16
The SSP, Mansa, has cancelled two cases registered by the Additional Station House Officer,
Bareta, Mr Resham Singh, as the cases after an inquiry were found to be false. Mr Resham Singh had booked Teja Singh, who was earning his livelihood by tailoring, on charges of
dacoity.

Police effort to befriend peopleSangrur, August 16
Mr Avtar Henry, Minister of Food and Civil Supplies, Punjab, here yesterday released citizen charter, prepared by the Sangrur district police. The charter aims at creating awareness among ordinary citizens about their rights vis-a-vis the police.

Cultural show held at Sadqi checkpostFazilka, August 16
Students of four schools, two educational institutes presented Punjabi cultural programme at joint Sadqi checkpost in the Fazilka sector for the second time on Independence Day last evening before the Retreat Ceremony.

2 get life term for murderMansa, August 16
Mr G.K. Rai, Additional District and Sessions Judge here, today convicted Roop Singh (41), son of Mr Kartar Singh of Gurne Kalan village, and Bhola Singh (23), son of Mr Jung Singh of Ubha village of the district, under Sections 302, 506 and 34 of the IPC.

Suit against Badal adjournedChandigarh, August 16
A recovery suit
filed against the former Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal, by the
then Deputy Director of the Information and Public Relation
Department, Punjab, Mr Jagdip Singh Chowhan, was today adjourned for
September 1.

91 cases settled at Lok AdalatMansa, August 16
The quarterly Lok Adalat was held today in the premises of the new Judicial Complex here. Four benches were constituted which were presided over by Mr Dharam Singh, Additional District and Sessions Judge, Mr Harsh Mehta, Chief Judicial Magistrate, Ms Jatinder Kaur and Ms Gurdarshan Kaur, both Judicial Magistrates (First Class) Mansa.

Junk dealers may get plots at reserved pricePatiala, August 16
The junk dealers
occupying a large area of land, including the Bahera road, may shift
out of the city in the coming months. The local Municipal Corporation
has requested the Local Bodies Department to allot land for them in
Transport Nagar on the outskirts of the city at reserved price.

Ex-MLA’s nephew shot deadDhuri (Sangrur), August 16
Due to alleged enmity during the last panchayat elections, Bhalinder Singh (32), a nephew of two-time former Dhuri MLA Dhanwant Singh and a local arhtiya, was shot dead last evening at his native Manwala village, 4 km from here, when he was reportedly returning home from his field.

Dowry victim dead, 3 bookedHoshiarpur, August 16
Death of a dowry victim due to burn injuries was reported yesterday in Tanda Police Station of the district. Rajwinder Kaur, wife of Malkiat Singh of Miani, succumbed to her burn injuries at the CMC, Ludhiana, last evening. She had received burn injuries at her house on Tuesday evening.

Sub-Inspector caught taking bribeFatehgarh
Sahib, August 16
The Vigilance Department has arrested a Sub-Inspector at
police station, Mandi Gobindgarh while taking a bribe of Rs
5,000.The vigilance team led by Mr Banarsi Dass, DSP, arrested him
from a hotel outside the police station.

Rs 72,440 looted from bankSangrur, August 16
Three armed robbers today looted Rs 72,440 from the local branch of State Bank of Patiala at Nidampur village, about 30 km from here, on the Sangrur-Patiala road. They also took away the weapon of the security guard.

Teaching staff
reinstatedFazilka, August 16
The teaching staff of Government High School, Behak Bodla, 10 km from
here, which was suspended on June 16, have been reinstated by the
Director, Public Instruction (Secondary), on the instructions of the
Secretary, Education, Punjab, with immediate effect.